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The Canadian version of the hit television show The Amazing Race will be a “love letter to Canada,” says the show’s producer.

“It’s going to really shock Canadians because I think many people really don’t recognize how special and extraordinary this country really is,” says John Brunton of Toronto-based Insight Productions.

“We are going to wrap ourselves in the flag. There are so many incredible attractions from the Rocky Mountains to the fact that we have a cultural diversity that is like none in the world.”

Brunton was talking to the Star from “somewhere in the world” while on secret location with the current season of the U.S. Amazing Race. .

Phil Keoghan, host of the U.S. show, announced the Canuck version in a special message during Sunday night’s episode. The series, which has won nine Emmy Awards for Outstanding Reality Competition Program, has spawned 11 international versions. Canada will be the 12th.

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CTV programming president Phil King says 10 one-hour episodes have been ordered and that casting will begin in the new year. Shooting will likely take place in late spring and the series will debut midsummer.

A hybrid travelogue and game show, the fast-paced show follows contestants around the world as they compete for prizes. The Canadian version will air on CTV while produced by Insight with the support of Profiles Television.

After the project was green-lighted by CTV programming president Phil King last Friday, Brunton hopped on a plane on Saturday to be on location for the finale of the American show.

“I wanted to see how the heck they operate this thing. I’ve never seen a show with so many moving parts and so much unpredictability,” said Brunton, at times shouting over the noise from what was obviously a busy street.

“You have no idea what’s going to happen or what the timing is, what the weather is, who’s going to get lost.”

Brunton said he’d already been on seven locations. We momentarily lost contact after he had to avoid bumping into one of four remaining teams who were running toward him. He ducked into a quiet alleyway to hear his phone.

“I tell you this much. Cameramen have to be in pretty darn good shape. It’s relentless . . . it keeps coming at you. You have to be able to turn on a dime.”

Although the Canadian show was only announced Sunday night, Brunton said he was already getting calls from would-be contestants.

“It’s wide open. We need people who hold the screen, people who are dynamic people at home can relate to . . . people who can represent who Canada is,” he said. “Canada is a very different place now than when I was born. People have flocked all over the world and I want to represent that.”

Show producers have already suggested Vancouver Island’s tropical rainforest, the Alberta Badlands and the barren tundra of the Canadian Arctic as some possible locations.

But as far as finding a Canadian host, or what the prize money will be, Brunton said he hadn’t even thought about yet.

“We need our own take on it, someone who can represent Canada,” said Brunton. “But I can tell you the prize money will be substantial.”

Likely not as substantial as the $1 million being offered by the American show. However, it likely won’t be as piddly as the 50,000 euros ($65,000 Canadian) offered contestants in France.

In Australia, the prize is $250,000 Australian or $260,000 Canadian.

And there is nothing to stop Amazing Race Canada travelling outside the country in future editions of the show, if it’s renewed for a second season.

The Amazing Race Australia, for example, has already visited 18 countries, including Canada.

Dealing with a franchise is never a guarantee of continued success however.

The most successful Canadian version of an American show was Canadian Idol, also produced by Insight, which lasted six seasons before being put on indefinite hiatus.

Citytv just aired the first season of The Bachelor Canada as well as Canada’s Got Talent this year, but there has been no word on second seasons for either show.

“One reason is that some of the shows are very expensive to produce,” said Brunton. “You can’t be a Canadian production company and look like a second-rate version. There is a certain expectation.”

Advertisers also need to step in to support productions that can be more expensive than typical Canadian shows, he says.

Brunton has been a busy man this season. He is currently working on Big Brother Canada and Never Ever Do This At Home.

For now, he remains a fan of the American Amazing Race and has seen most of the 21 seasons.

“Our family sits around the TV and we argue who would be the best competitor . . . or who would nail that challenge. We’re always telling the kids that if we were on the show we would smoke them. Now Canadians have the same chance.”

With files from The Canadian Press

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